Pretty Dangerous (22 page)

“What is this concerning since my daughter
isn’t involved?” MiMi glanced from the policewoman to the social
worker.

“I said your daughter is safe, but this is
about a report we received about her care.” Mrs. Young faced
MiMi.

“I’ve never had a complaint about her day
care center or noticed anything wrong. I checked them out before
she enrolled.” MiMi frowned at them.

“The report was about how you care for your
daughter, Ms. Landry. Maybe we should sit down. I can--”

“Wait a minute,” MiMi cut her off. She
noticed the policewoman position herself in a defensive position.
“What about how I care for Sage?”

Mrs. Young seemed unfazed by her reaction.
“We have a report that you’ve been neglecting her medical care and
she’s showing signs of emotional abuse. Apparently you’ve been
involved in alleged illegal drug activity, a murder investigation
and left the child alone while out with... several male
friends.”

MiMi tried to talk but couldn’t for a few
seconds. The word abuse had slammed into her chest and she felt
breathless. “Lies, those are all lies.”

“One of the daycare attendants reports that
Sage has been crying a lot and seems to startle easily. She also
has a bruise on her left thigh,” Mrs. Young said.

“She’s still unsteady on her little feet,
like most toddlers. Sage tried to climb down from her booster seat
and hit her leg. She didn’t even cry when it happened. I can’t
believe this.” MiMi pressed a hand to her forehead. “You can’t take
my baby.”

“Ms. Landry, we’re only investigating at this
point. Tell me about the accident that caused the injury,” Mrs.
Young said.

“There is no injury. I know every inch of my
child’s body, and she has a bruise that’s almost gone. And I
haven’t been charged, let alone convicted of a crime. I don’t see
how you can come into my house accusing me of not taking care of my
baby.” MiMi’s voice rose with each word.

“What the hell is goin’ on up in here?” Jazz
said. She stopped short when the policewoman walked in front of
her.

“I’m Officer Wells, ma’am. Mrs. Young is
trying to get the facts for her report. I’m sure this will be
cleared up soon. If you’ll just give us a minute.”

“No, I want a witness,” MiMi said firmly.
“Jazz don’t leave.”

“Staying put,” Jazz said with attitude. She
returned the policewoman’s gaze. They looked at each other as if
agreeing neither would move.

MiMi spun around to face Mrs. Young again.
“Tell me who called in this fake report.”

“We don’t reveal the source of a complaint,
Ms. Landry. Listen, no one says youphysically harmed your child on
purpose. If I can get exactly what happened, in particular about
three weeks ago when you left your child alone---”

“I’ve never left Sage alone, and whoever says
I did is lying,” MiMi shouted. Her voice broke. Tears threatened,
but for a very different reason than moments before.

Mrs. Young consulted a small note pad she
took from her pocket. “You were with a man on a date on April
tenth, according to the report.”

“Sage was with my sister. You can confirm
with her. This is ridiculous.” MiMi’s mood took a sharp right turn
from fear to anger.

“So your sister kept the child while you
spent the night with this gentleman. The bruise is from an accident
when you weren’t looking at the baby perched on the chair.” Mrs.
Young took notes, a slight frown of concentration on her face.

“You’re making me sound like a neglectful
slut who’d rather have sex than take care of my daughter. I thought
you people were supposed to be objective. I want to know who fed
you this garbage.” MiMi felt her body shudder with rage.

“Ms. Landry, I’m here to get your explanation
in answer to these allegations. I assure you that we haven’t drawn
any conclusions based on the report. You’ll be able to tell your
side in court,” Mrs. Young said in a calm, steady voice.

“What do you mean in court?” MiMi took a step
back. Before the social worker could answer, the chimes sounded
again.

“I’ll go.” Jazz left and returned with a
man.

“MiMi Landry?” the man glanced around.

“Yes.” MiMi blinked at him.

“This is for you.” The man extended something
to her.

MiMi took the folded paper. The man nodded
and left. As she read, the letters on the beige legal-sized
document blurred and ran together. Her body went numb as the world
seemed to shatter. She heard voices, but they sounded muffled. Then
the lights went out.

****

MiMi spent almost three days in a fog of
depression. Fortunately, she had her friends. If Willa’s mother
knew anything, it was how to respond in a domestic crisis. MiMi had
fainted once she read the summons. Her sister had filed a petition
to get custody of Sage.

Mama Ruby went into action like an Army
general marshaling the troops. Willa was dispatched to pick up Sage
from the daycare center. She’d had to assure MiMi that the child
welfare worker had no grounds to place the child in foster care
immediately. A court order would have been required, and a judge
would only grant an order if she was in immediate danger. Jazz
called Elle to explain the situation. For four days Elle covered
for MiMi at the office. She even made it appear that MiMi kept
sending emails. Willa’s twin brothers checked to make sure no odd
jobs were needed at the house. With their support, MiMi’s world
didn’t fall part while she moved around in a daze. All she wanted
to do was hold Sage and cry. Finally after two days, Jazz cut
through the gentle talk.

“Look, girl. You have to keep sending Sage to
daycare. You got to keep your job. And you can’t let this house go
to hell. You’ll just give your sister more dirt to report to the
judge. Now get your ass out of that robe.”

Slowly MiMi let go of the self-pity. She got
equal doses of tender and tough love. By the following weekend,
MiMi had strength to start planning. Sunday morning they’d gone to
church. Willa’s Aunt Ametrine beamed when they entered the doors of
Saintsville Church of God. The choir rocked the house with gospel
songs. Reverend L.C. Grimes preached a powerful sermon, and MiMi
felt renewed. Two hours later they went to Mama Ruby’s house for
Sunday dinner. The smell of baked chicken, scalloped potatoes,
green beans and buttered yeast rolls filled the kitchen.

“Ruby, you should have been there. Rev.
Grimes showed out. Praise His Holy name,” Aunt Ametrine announced
as she strode ahead of Willa, MiMi and the children through the
kitchen door.

“Yeah, and he showed out for a loooong time,”
said her husband as he peeled off his suit jacket.

“Uncle Preston, you’re so crazy,” Willa said
with a laugh.

“My pastor prayed, sung and preached up a
mighty storm,” Aunt Ametrine continued. She spared only a second to
shoot her better half a heated sideways glance.

“He could have done it in half the time and
been just as powerful,” Uncle Preston wisecracked.

“At Glen Oaks Methodist we’re in and out in
an hour, brother-in-law. Thank you, Lord!” Papa Elton shared a
hearty laugh with Uncle Preston. The two middle-aged mischief
makers slapped palms and shook hands.

“Y’all need to quit. Ametrine is going to
start splashing some of that anointed oil to drive the demons out
of you,” Mama Ruby joked.

“See that’s what’s wrong with the world.
Y’all playing with the Lord’s business, and on his day to boot.
Umph, umph, umph.” Aunt Ametrine took off her church hat and
marched off. “I’m going to wash up before I help set the
table.”

“We have everything just about ready,
Ametrine,” Mama Ruby called after her.

“Always more to be done,” she echoed back
down the hall.

“Which means things done the way she thinks
they should be,” Willa said aside to MiMi.

“Ametrine ain’t takin’ over my kitchen or my
dining room. So she just might as well set her holy roller butt
down and eat,” Mama Ruby replied tartly.

“Thanks for inviting me to your big Sunday
dinner.” MiMi smiled when Sage gurgled as if in agreement.

“Don’t be silly. You’re always invited. Do
what the rest of town does, just stop by and fill a plate.” Willa
grinned at her.

The toddler seemed to enjoy all the action
around them. Willa’s kids, Anthony and Mikayla came in to greet
their sibling. Papa Elton and Uncle Preston got into a spirited
discussion of sports with Anthony. True to her word, Mama Ruby
fended off her sister’s attempts to order and re-order things.

MiMi sneaked a dinner roll when Mama Ruby
turned her back. “Your uncle was right. Girl, I’m so hungry. You
should have warned me those folks stay in church forever.”

Willa burst out laughing. “Why do you think
Jazz told her thanks, but no thanks when she invited us?”

“I figured she was being her usual heathen
self, as your aunt would say.” MiMi grinned back.

“Come on, Sage. Let’s play with our cousins.”
Mikayla swooped the child out of MiMi’s arms and was gone in
seconds. In the background, more children added to the joyful
noise.

Jazz strolled in dressed in a denim jacket
over a maxi skirt. “Hey everybody.” A chorus answered her. “Damn
it’s loud up in here.”

“Hey, girl. I’m glad you came.” Willa hugged
her.

“Yeah, whatever.” Jazz looked pleased despite
her response. Then she glanced at MiMi. “You lookin’ a lot
better.”

“On the surface. I just can’t believe
Adrienne went so far.” MiMi started to say more, but Willa waved at
her to stop.

“Let’s go where we can talk.”

Willa pointed to the kitchen door leading
into the house. MiMi and Jazz followed her. They went down a
hallway past the living room where several adults held a loud
discussion. Farther along, the children played in the family room,
or what Papa Elton called his “man cave”.

“You gotta be kidding,” Jazz retorted. “This
house is stuffed with chattering kinfolks.”

“Yeah, but they’re staying close to the
food,” Willa replied.

They ended up on the large screened in porch.
A covered patio extended beyond the enclosed area. Papa Elton’s
prized grill sat there with another table and chairs. MiMi and
Willa sat at a round glass table with five matching chairs. Jazz
went to a swing sofa.

Mama Ruby appeared in the doorway. “We’re
going to be eating soon, so don’t get into any trouble.”

“Who us?” Jazz affected a wide-eyed look.

“No rushing off to start some confusion. This
is Sunday family time and...”

“Relax, Miss Ruby. Rev. Grimes stirred up the
spirit of starvation with that long sermon. I’m not going
anywhere,” MiMi quipped.

“I hear ya. The man can beat a point to
death. Ten minutes or I’m coming back to get you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” MiMi replied.

“We promise,” Willa added. Mama Ruby
left.

“That food is smelling good,” Jazz said. She
turned to MiMi. “I can talk some sense to your sister if you
want.”

“Jazz, don’t even joke about going after
Adrienne.” Willa lay back in her chair and propped her feet on a
second one.

“Ignore her, MiMi. Listen, I can be real
persuasive.” Jazz gave MiMi a wink.

“I’m going to ignore you instead,” Willa said
in a dry voice. She looked at MiMi. “Courts don’t like to separate
kids from their biological parent. The judge will want something
pretty substantial to prove Sage should go to your sister.”

“How about her mama has no job, went to
prison in a foreign country for weed and is a murder suspect.
Sounds substantial enough to me.” MiMi swallowed hard. She resisted
the urge to run inside and grab Sage for a tight hug.

“You really think your sister will get that
down and dirty?” Willa asked.

MiMi stood and made a circle around the
seating area. “Oh yes. I should have seen this coming. She kept
offering to keep Sage longer than necessary. How she took over
buying her clothes. She even decorated a bedroom at her house for
Sage like she’d be living there. I’m such an idiot.”

“I don’t get it. Why doesn’t she just try for
another baby to complete her trophy family?” Willa looked at
MiMi.

“Adrienne had problems conceiving the first
time, something to do with fibroid tumors. Her first pregnancy was
close to a miracle. Mama told me her doctor says she really should
have a hysterectomy.” MiMi stared across the green lawn of the
backyard.

“So she decides to take her niece. Damn, talk
about gangsta.” Jazz shook her head.

“She doesn’t care if she breaks your heart
and destroys your reputation.” Willa frowned. “I mean you’re
family.”

“Adrienne will do what it takes to get what
she wants. She and daddy are a lot alike.”

“Of course Mrs. Got Rocks will show up and
represent like her family is picture perfect. Too bad you can’t
sling some dirt on her.” Jazz grunted.

“Custody cases can get pretty nasty.” Willa
bit her lower lip.

The three friends sat silent for several
minutes. Their somber moods descended like a cloud. No one smiled.
Sunshine outside and laugher coming from inside the house didn’t
even seem to help. Finally, Willa sighed and stood. She walked to
the screen door, but didn’t go through it to the open patio.

“Mama Ruby’s flowers are going to bloom
pretty all summer. She’s got a green thumb. The woman loves digging
in the dirt.” Willa smiled.

“Dirt!” MiMi blurted out and slapped her
hands together. Willa and Jazz jumped at the same time.

Jazz looked at Willa. “I think she’s
snapped.”

“No, no. You both said dirt. Don’t you see?”
MiMi spread her arms. She glanced from Willa to Jazz and back
again.

“Um, not really.” Willa cast a side-eye at
her sister.

“I’m not losing my mind. You said custody
cases get nasty.” MiMi pointed at Willa. Then she pointed at Jazz.
“You said we should sling dirt at Adrienne.”